Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts

Review - Namaste Wahala (2020 Film)

Sunday, April 25, 2021 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

 Was fairly keen on watching this Nollywood meets Bollywood production! 


“Loose Translation = Hello Trouble!”


The Rundown

Behind the name: Hello Trouble!  

Country: Nigeria, 2020

Genre: Rom-Com

Production: Forever 7 Entertainment 

Distribution: Netflix

Director: Hamisha Daryani Ahuja

Cast: Ini Dima Okojie (as Didi), Ruslaan Mumtaz (as Raj), Richard Mofe-Damijo (as Earnest), Joke Silva (as Shola), Sujata Sehgal (as Meera), Ibrahim Suleiman (as Somto), Frodd (as Raymond)

Compare to: Chennai Express

Hate it or Love it?  Entertain it


Synopsis in a Sentence: A Nigerian girl and Indian guy literally collide on a beach and fall into instant love, and of course their families have no chill! 




On Writing: The Plot

The story is really, honestly corny. The concept is cool and could be fun, but somehow, doesn't quite land. Could it be the feigned depth? The premature sprint into love? The trite opposition of their families? Whether the culprit is one or all of these, the plot is quite unexceptionally delivered. 

For being the first of its kind though, and for reflecting the marriage of cultures that Nigerian-Indians have been able to create over time, it deserves recognition. 

(3/5)


On Acting: The Cast 

A fairly good cast, but overall, underwhelmingly delivered action. Because it is corny. But oh well! 

Ini Dima Okojie is Didi, and she’s believable as a love-interest, but hardly so as a lawyer. Is it her lines? The plot? The lack of depth of her character? What more can be said? Still, she is interesting to watch. 

Ruslaan Mumtaz is Raj, the male love interest and he’s alright, yet some delivery is… corny. Could it be the lines or the unbelievable jumps his character is forced to make into love? Who knows? Eye candy to watch though. 

Richard Mofe-Damijo is lawyer-father Ernest, and by now, he’s played this 100 times so… is it trite? Still, he is believable. 

Joke Silva is sophisticated mum, Shola and of course, she’s great. Could be the ace of the production. 

Sujata Sehgal makes her Nollywood debut as Meera, and she’s quite good as the Indian mother protecting her son from… the unknown… yet our introduction to her performance lacks the intensity it needed to be convincing. Otherwise, a good delivery overall. 

And 2019 Big Brother Nigeria contestant, Frodd, makes his big-screen debut as Raymond, a convincingly entitled loser-brat! 

Overall, a good cast who unfortunately falls victim to an undeveloped plot line… 

 (3/5) 



On Production: The Creativity

Production is fair. It’s quite alright and loses itself in some cases, but it’s certainly not all bad. Perhaps it’s the best thing the movie has offered yet.. but then it’s not. 

(3.5/5)                                              


On Resolution: The Conclusion

It ends with the expectation that there will be a part two, because there is hope that this movie can redeem itself with a sequel that captures the wahala, and fun, of a Nollywood-Bollywood-Indian-Nigerian wedding! 

(3/5)


The Verdict: A lukewarm, underwhelming, yet fairly light-hearted watch.  


Overall Score = 12/20








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Movie Review: Merry Men 2: Another Mission (2019 Nollywood Film)

Thursday, December 12, 2019 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

Got invited to the premiere of this movie and it was a great watch!

 
A step above its predecessor! 
The Rundown
Behind the name: Based on Robin Hood’s outlaw gang
Country: Nigeria, 2019
Genre: Action, Comedy 
Production: Corporate World Entertainment & FilmOne Entertainment
Director: Moses Inyang
Cast:   AY Ayo Makun (as Ayo Abioritsegbemi), Ramsey Nouah (as Ayo Alesinloye), Jim Iyke (as Naz Okigbo), Folarin Falana AKA falz (as Remi Martins), Ireti Doyle (as Dame Maduka), Damilola Adegbite (as Dera Chukwu), Rosy Meurer (as Kemi Alesinloye), Alex Asogwa (as Calypso), Williams Uchemba (as Johnny), Ufuoma McDermott (as Zara), Nancy Isime (as Sophie Obaseki), Regina Daniels (as Kenya) & more
Compare to: Merry Men, The Real Yoruba Demons 
Hate it or Love it?  Watch it

Synopsis in a Sentence: A crew of four friends brought together by the idea that stealing from the rich to “give to the  poor” try to straighten their ways, but soon realise that once they sleep with the dogs, they have to deal with the fleas that come with them... 

On Writing: The Plot
The plot is clearer, more  engaging and overall relays a much better storyline than the first! 
With a slightly better exposition than the first movie, we get insight into the lives of the crooks, and what motivates them, and why we should actually like them. 
The climax is also better, some pieces of dialogue are funnier, and the rise and fall of the action is a step above the previous one; an overall upgrade on this front!
(3.5/5)
On Acting: The Cast 
The cast is, quite star-studded, and the characters are clearly written for the personality each actor brings. 
Here are the Merry Men: top comedian AY Ayo Makun plays the role of Ayo Abioritsegbemi, playboy and co ring-leader of the gang. Then there’s veteran actor, Ramsey Nouah, who plays Ayo Alesinloye, co-ring leader as well. Old school actor Jim Iyke plays pervie friend, Naz Okigbo, and talented musician and political commentator, Falz, AKA Folarin Falana plays Remi Martins, the techie, and we get introduced to comedian Williams Uchemba, who plays Johnny, the rival techie. 
And amongst others, including Francis Duru, who is chief investigator and  Damilola Adegbite who is investigator Dera Chukwu, we have Ireti Doyle, who is Dame Maduka AKA the villain AKA the devil. And she, quite honestly, carries the movie and relays the most believable character yet! A top performance! (3.5/5) 
On Production: The Creativity
The production is quite, maybe, the star of the whole thing; we get to see Lagos, Abuja, city life in Nigeria, and it’s quite well done. We get a few shots of creativity with the action as well, and the humour is quite well infused, so overall, production is well done! 
(4/5)                                              
On Resolution: The Conclusion
Alright. So. We are likely to get a part 3. 
It resolves nicely but there are a few hangs… does the villain go scott free, or does she finally lose her luck? Will the marriage ever happen? Can the merry men really stay out of the easy, glitzy life of crime they’ve come to know and love? All these lead us to believe that there's likely to be another movie coming, but for this movie’s resolution, it is quite alright! 
(3.5/5)
The Verdict: An upgrade from the previous movie! A more enjoyable watch! 
Overall Score = 14.5/20







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Review: The CEO (2016 Film)

Monday, February 20, 2017 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek
Went to see this one in cinemas in Nigeria and was enthralled by the storyline—top managers from all over around Africa vying for the title of global CEO? Yes!


“A story of intrigue, power and all the political/financial struggles of modern day Africa.”

The Rundown
Behind the name: The Chief Operating Officer   
Country: Nigeria, 2016
 Genre: Thriller, Drama
Written by: Tunde Babalola
Director: Kunle Afolayan
                  Cast: Wale Ojo (as Kola), Angélique Kidjo (as Dr. Zara Zimmerman),             Hilda Dokubo (as Superintendent Ebenezer), Nico Panagio (as Riikard), Jimmy Jean-Louis (as Jean-Marc), Fatym Layachi (as Yasmin), Peter King Nzioki (as Jomo), Kemi Lala Akindoju (as Lisa)
                  Compare to: Itself
                  Hate it or Love it? Like it

Synopsis in a Sentence: Top managers from all over Africa meet in Lagos, Nigeria to compete for the CEO spot, but will any of them live to take the no.1 spot? 
           

On Writing: The Plot
The story is unique and quite new, at least for Nollywood’s typical fixation on family dramas, so points for that! Also, we get to see continental representation of Africa, including the North! Otherwise the story is relatively disjointed and a bit patchy, and with a few unbelievable bits, but at least points for exploring a new storyline, right? 
(3/5)

On Acting: The Cast
The cast is quite famous and very diverse and that’s by far the highlight; perhaps a wonderful cast would have taken the alright storyline and made it almost great, but quite honestly, the cast was just like the plot—alright; perhaps not because the actors were bad, but because they weren’t cast correctly. For Example, acclaimed actress Hilda Dokubo makes her big come back in this movie, after what seems like 20 years, and she’s cast to play a super-charged, super aggressive inspector; which is not the best choice for her, because the legendary actress we know from the 90s is famed for playing the sweetest, saddest characters, and this role is simply not her, especially after she’s spent so much time away from the big screen. And then there’s Angelique Kidjo, legendary Grammy-award-winning musician, but she is not quite her character here.
But the best actor goes to Peter King Nzioki, who plays the top manager from Kenya. He is absolutely convincing and believable, which is much needed from this picture!
 (3/5)


On Production: The Creativity
Production is the best thing in this movie! The shots are gorgeous and we get to see Lagos in a new light! A far cry from the hustle and bustle and craziness of the city, we see the touristic part of Nigeria’s largest city in the most gorgeous way! And the actors and the plot are saved by the magic that is production. A job well; very well done!
(4/5)                                             

On Resolution: The Conclusion
So much to say here but let’s get straight to the point—the resolution is quite a fail. Mostly for the premise of the conclusion, it’s incomplete and unconvincing, and haphazard resolution. Don’t believe it? Watch and see—even if just for that.
(2/5)

The Verdict: A good watch; novel storyline and outlook to African actors, but overall, average
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Overall Score = 12/20
Watch the Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm0pmb0CXxg




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